Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



May 28, 1929. R. A. M CANN RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed July l9, 1928 INVENTOR 2 Patented May 28, 1929.

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nonann A. iviceanrton sWIssvALE, :eisnnsynvania, Assrenon TO THE Union swircrr & SIGNAL COMPANY, or SWISSVALE, rnnnsYLvAnia, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TRAFFIC-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 19, 1928. Serial No. 293,945.

My invention relates to railway traliic con trolling apparatus, and particularly to ap paratus of the type wherein train carried governing mechanism is controlled by energy received from the track rails. The present invention relates to they trackway portion of such apparatus, and is particularly applicable to stretches of single track over which traffic moves in both directions.

I will describe one form of apparatus embod ying my invention, andwill then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters 1 and l" designate the track rails of a stretch. of railway track over which traffic moves in both directions. These rails are divided by insulated joints 2 into blocks or sections, such as AB, B'-C, and GD. The section B-C is equipped with apparatus embodying my invention, and only enough parts of the apparatus associated with sections A-B and CD are illustrated to explain the operation of the parts associated with section AB.

Section BC provided with a track circuit comprising a transformer G thesecondary of which is constantly connected with the track rails adjacent the west end B of the section, and a track relay F which is normally connected with the track rails adjacent the east end C of the section. A second track relay F is constantly connected with the track rails adjacent the west end of the section, and a second transformer G serves at times to supply track circuit current to the section B-C adjacent the west end of the section. The control and operation of these track circuit elements will be explained more in detail hereinafter.

Located adjacent the point B is a signal S for governing eastbound traffic through the section BC, which signal comprises a proceed lamp a caution lamp 3" and a stop lamp 3. Located adjacent the point C is a similar signal S for governing westbound traffic through the section BC.

Si nal S is provided with a polarized east bound home relay, H and with an eastbound home repeater relay Similarly, signal S is provided with a westbound home relay E and with a westbound home repeater relay VV The circuit for the east-bound home relay H is from one terminal or the other of the secondary of a transformer 8, throughthe front or back point of contact 9 of a home relay lV front contact 10 of track relay F back contact 11 of a stick .relay E winding of relay H and common wire 0 to the middle point of the secondaryof transformer 8. The

primary of transformer 8 is constantly supplied with alternating current from a transformer 85, the. primary of which is connected with a transmission line l). This transmission line is supplied with alternating current from a source which is not shown inthe drawing. It will be noted that relay H is controlled by a track relay F for section CD and by he.

home repeater relay Vi/ for the section to the east of point D, but that relay H is not controlled by either of the track relays associated with section B-,(l. It will, furthermore, be

noted that current of one relative polarity or the other is supplied to relay H according as home repeater relay W is energized or deonergized, the parts being so arranged that when the home repeater relay Vi is energized, relay H is energizedin'the normal direction, whereas, when home repeater relay is deenergized, relay H is energized in thereverse direction. In other words, relay H is controlled by traflic conditions to the east of section BC'in such manner that this relay is energized in the normal or the reverse direction according as such traflieconditions are safe or unsafe. i

The circuit for the westbound home relay H9 is from one terminal'or the other of the secondary of a transformer4, through the front or back point of contact 5 of home repeater relay /V contact 6 of the track relay tions to the west ofpoint A are safe or unsafe. '7

The circuit for the eastbound home repeater relay is from the secondary of the trans former K through contact 12 of track relay F contact 13 of relay H in either the normal or reverse position, Winding of relay WV, and common wire 0 to the secondary of transformer K The primary of transformer K is connected with transmission line L. It will be noted that the home repeater relay WV is energized whenever home relay H is en ergized, provided that track relay F is also energized, but that relay VV is cle-energized whenever either relay H or F or both of these relays are deenergized. WVestbound home repeater relay WV is similarly controlled by contact lat of track relay F and contact 15 of relay H in either the normal or the reverse position, so that relay V is energized when and only when both relays F and H are energized.

Associated with the signal S is an eastbound stick relay E, which is controlled in a manner common to vabsolute permissive block signaling practice. That is to say, relay E has a pickup circuit including back contact 21 of track relay F back contact 22 of relay F and front contact 23 of home repeater relay W and it has a stick circuit controlled by its own front contact 25 and back contact 2 1 of track relay F. It follows that in accordance with standard practice, relay E is normally le-energized, and becomes energized when and only when an eastbound train enters section l3C, whereupon it remains energized as long as such train occupies section E U Signal S is provided with a westbound stick relay E controlled in a similar manner, that is, this relay is provided with a pick-up circuit including back contact 26 of track relay F back contact 27 of track relay F and front contact 28 of home repeater relay W and is provided with a stick circuit including its own front contact 30 and a back contact 29 of relay It follows that stick relay E is normally tie-energized and becomes energized when and only when a westbound train enters section 13-0, whereupon, it

remains energized until such train leaves section AB.

-The eastbound stick relay E is provided with an eastbound stick repeater relay P which is located at the point C and is controlled by a front contact 31 of relay E through a circuit which obvious from the drawing. It follows that relay P is energized or tie-energized according as relay E is energized or ale-energized.

The primary of track transformer G is normally connected with the secondary of line transformer K through back contact 32 of eastbound stick relay E and track relay F is normally connected with the rails of section BC tln'ough back contact 33 of the eastbound stick repeater relay P It follows that when a westbound train passes through the section B-C, track circuit curin advance of the train by transformer G \Vhen an eastbound train enters the section,

however, relays E and P become energized, whereupon, the primary circuit for transformer G is opened at back contact 32 of relay E and track relay F is disconnected from the rails by the opening of back contact of relay P at the same time the primary of track transformer G becomes connected with the secondary of line transformer K through front contact 8 1 of relay P so that track circuit current is supplied to the rails in advance of the train by transformer G The reversal of the track circuit for section BC is in accordance with standard practice, and forms no part of my present invention. The operation of the apparatus for doing this has thercforebeen very briefly described in the present specilication, but a more detailed description of the structure and operation of apparatus for accomplishing track circuit reversal will be found in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,400,964, issued to me on. December 20, 1921, for railway trafiic controlling apparatus.

The rails of section B-C are at times supplied with train governing current which flows through the two rails in multiple, and for this purpose a resistance QP is connected across the rails at the point B and a second resistance Q is connected across the rails at the point C. This traingoverning current, whichis usually termed loop'current 0 is furnished by two transformers T and T located at the western and eas tern ends of the section respectively.- The primary circuit for transformer T is from the secondary of the transformer K through normal contact 16 of relay H and the primary of transformer T to the secondary of transformer K It follows that the primary of transformer T is supplied with current when and only when the eastbound home relay H is energized in the normal direc-' tion. The secondary circuit for transformer T is from the right-hand terminal of this secondary, through the front point of contact 17 of relay E front point of contact 5 18 of relay P to the mid-point of resistance Q then through the two rails 1 and- 1 to resistance Q and from the mid-point of the latter resistance to the left-hand terminal ofithe secondary of transformer T It follows that this secondary circuit is closed when and only when the eastbound stick relay E and the eastbound stick repeater relay P are both energized, that is, when and only when aneast-bound train occupies section B- C.

The primary circuit for transformer T is from the secondary of transformer K through normal contact 20 of westbound' home relay H front contact 19 of westbound stick relay E and the primary of transformer T to the secondary of transformer K It follows that this primary circuit is energized when and only when relay H is energized in the normal direction and relay E is energized, that is, when and only when a westbound train occupies section B-C and traffic conditions to the west of point A are safe. The secondary circuit for transformer T isfrom the right-hand terminal of this secondary, through the back point of contact 18 of relay P back point of contact 1'7 of relay E to the mid-point of resistance Q), then through the rails 1 and 1 in multiple to resistance Q}, and from the midpoint of this resistance to the left-hand terminal of the secondary of transformer T It follows that this circuit is closed when and only when the eastbonnd'stick relay E and the eastbound stick repeater relay P are both de-energized.

- Apparatus embodying my invention is in-- tended for use in connection with train carried apparatus which operates to give a proceed indication when the track occupied by the train is supplied with both track circuit current and loop current, and a stop indication when the supply of either of these currents is discontinued.

JLSSUlDlIlQ that a train equipped withsueh apparatus is moving toward the east, when this train enters section BC, relays E and P will both become energized, so that the train will receive track circuit current fromtransformer G and will receive loop current from transformer T if and only if the eastbound home relay H is energized in the normal direction. The opening of track relay F will de-cnergize the eastbound home repeater relay 7 so that signal S will assume the stop indication, but relay H will remain energized in the normal direction, and so the supply of loop current to the train will not be interrupted at normal contact 16 of this relay.

Assuming now that a westbound train enters section BC, such train will receive track circuit current from transformer G and will also receive loop current from transformer T if relay H is energized in the normal direction. The opening of track relay F will cause the westbound homerepeater relay W to become de-energized, so that signal S will assume the stop indication, but relay H will ren'iain energized in the norinal direction, and so the supply of loop cur-i rent will not be interrupted at the normal contact 20 of this relay.

Heretofore the usual practice has been to control the home relaysH and H by one of the track relays for section B-C, so that both of the home relays are tile-energized I when a train occupies sect-ion BC. This practice makes it impossible to control the supply of loop current by the home relays,

are de-energized while atrain occupies sec- 7 tion BG. Each signal S and S is controlled by its associatedhome relay H and home repeater relay N, so that these signals operate in the usual and standard manner. The proceed lamp 3 of signal S is provided with a circuit which passes from the secondary oftransformer K through the front point of contact 38 0f relay Vi contact 37 of relay H in the normal position, and lamp 3 to secondary of transformer K3. It follows that signal S indicates proceed when and only when its home relay H is energized in the normal direction and its home repeater relay lV i is ei'ieiigized. Lamp 3 of signal S is provided with a similar circuit which includes front point of contact 38 of relay N and contact 37 of relay H in the reverse position, so that signal S indicates caution when and only when relay H is energized in the reverse direction, and relay N is energized. The stop lamp 3 for this signal includes. back point of contact 38 of relay lV so that'signal. S indicates stop whenever the eastbound home repeater re lay VV is de-energized. Signal S is controlled in a similar manner by contact 39 of the westbound home relay H and contact 40 of the westbound home repeater relay W Although I have herein shown and de scribed only one form of apparatus embody- 7 ing my invention, it is understood that varions. changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. g

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l I 1'. In combination, a section of railway track over which traffic moves in both direc tions, a track circuit for said section includin g a track relay, a polarized eastbound home relay controlled by traffic to theeast of said section but not by the track relay for said section and arranged to be energized in normal or reverse direction according as such traliic conditions are safe or unsafe, a polarized westbound home relay controlled by traflic'to the west of said section but'notby the track relay for said section and arranged to be-energized in normal or reverse direction according as such traflic'conditions are safe or unsafe, aneastbound home repeater relay controlled by said eastbound home relay and by said track relay, a westbound home home relay and by said track relay, an eastbound signal for said section controlled by said eastbound home and home repeater 1'c-' lays, awestbound signal for said section controlled by said westbound home and home repeater relays, a normally (lo-energized eastbound stick relay for said section, means for energizing said stick relay when an eastbound train enters said section and for keeping it energized until the train leaves the section, an eastbound stick repeater relay located at the east end of the section and controlled by the eastbound stick relay, a normally de-energized westbound stick relay, means for energizing said westbound stick relay when a westbound train enters the section and for keeping it energized until the train leaves the section, means operating when said eastbound stick relay and said eastbound stick repeater relay are energized to supply train governing current to the rails of said section if and only if said eastbound home relay is energized in normal direction,

' and means operating when said westbound stick relay is energized to supply tra n governing current to. the rails of said section it and only if said westbound home relay energized in normal direction.

2. I11 combination, a section of railway track over whi'clitra'llic moves in both directions, a track circuit for said. section including a track relay, a polarized eastbound home relay controlled by traflic to the east of said section but not by the track relay for said section and arranged to be energized innormal or reverse direction according as such traffic conditions are safe or unsafe, a polarized westbound home relay controlled by trafiic to the west of said section but not by the track relay for said section and arranged tobe energized in normal or reverse direction according as such tra'llic conditions are safe or unsafe, an eastbound home repeater relay'controlled by said eastbound home relay and by said track relay, a westbound home repeater relay controlled by said westbound home relay and by said track relay, an eastbound signal tor said section controlled'by said eastbound home and home repeaterrelays, a Westbound signal for said section controlled by said westbound home and home repeater relays, a normally tie-energized eastbound stick relay for said section, means for energizing said stick relay when an eastbound tram enters said section and for keepmg it energized until the train leaves the section, an eastbound stick repeater relay located at the east end of the section and controlled by the eastbound stick relay, a normally deenergized westbound stick relay, means for energizing said westbound stick relay when a westbound train enters the section and-for keeping it energized until the train leaves the section, an eastbound train governing transformer and a westbound train governing transformer, a primary circuit for said eastbound transformer including a source of current and a normal contact of said eastbound home relay, a secondary circuit for said eastbound transformer including a front contact of said eastbound stick relay and about contact of said eastbound stick repeater relay as well as the rails of said section, a primary circuit for said westbound transformer in cluding a front contact of said Westbound stick relay and a normal contact of said westbound home relay as well as a source of current, and a secondary circuit for said westbound transi'ormer-including back contacts of said eastbound stick relay and said eastbound stick repeater relays as well as the rails of said section.

3. In combination, a section of railway track over which tra'tlic moves in both directions, a track circuit for said section includin a track relay, a polarized eastbound home relay controlled by traffic, to the east of said section but not by the track relay for said section and arranged to be energized in normal or reverse directionaccording as such traliic conditions are safe or unsafe, a polarized westbound home relay controlled by traflic to the west of said section but not by the track relay for said section and arranged to be energized in normal or reverse direction according as such trai'iic conditions are safe or unsafe, an eastbound home repeater relay controlled by said eastbound home relay and by said track relay,a westbound home repeater relay controlled by said westbound home relay and by said track relay, an eastboundsignal forsaidsectioncontrolled by said eastbound home and home repeater relays, a westbound signal for said section controlled by said westbound home and home repeater relays, means operating when an eastbound train passes through said section to supply train governing current to the rails of the section if and only if said eastbound home relay is energized in normal direction, and means operating when a westbound train passes through said section to supply train governingcurrent to the rails of the section if and only if said westbound home relay is energized in normal direction.

4:. In combination, a section of railway track over which tra'tiic moves in both directions, a track circuit for said section including a track rela a polarized eastbound home relay controller by tratlic to the east of said section but not by the track relay for said section and arranged to be energized in normail or. reverse direction according as such trafiic conditions are safe or unsafe, a polarized westbound home relay controlled by traiiic to the'west of said section but not by the track relay for said section and arranged to be energized in normal or reverse direction according as such traflic conditions are safe or unsafe, an eastbound home repeater relay controlled by said eastbound home relay and by said track relay, a westbound home repeator relay controlled by said west-bound home relay and by said track relay, an eastbound signal for said secton controlled by said eastbound home and home repeater relays, a

westbound signal for said section controlled by said westbound home and home repeater relays, means operating when an eastbound train passes through said section to supply train governing current to the rails of the section which current flows through the two track rails in multiple, said means being effective if and only it said eastbound home relay is energized in normal direction, and means operating when a westbound tram passes through said section to supply train governing current to the rails 01' the section which current flows through thetwo track 20 RONALD A. MoGANN. 

